Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-30
SECRET CIRCULAR TO THE X. OF l..
The Revised Constitution and the
Trade Assembly Law Submitted for
Approval.

During the past week 10 900 copies OF a secret
circular and the revised constitution and laws
governing the formation OF national trade assem-
bl1eS have been sent out TO all the local assemblies
OF the Knights OF Labor from the general head
quarters OF the order In Philadelphia for approval
Some OF the changes in the constitution, as
suggested by the committee On law, are OF the
highest importance. The committee 10 do this
work was appointed by the general assembly at
Richmond last october, and consists OF General
Master Workman Powderly, with Messrs. Hayes,
C. Carlton, Mcguire, Barry, Bailey, and Alesworth
OF the general executive board, and John Devlin,
OF Detroit, John Homes, OF Worcester, ID. j.
Haggerty, of Brooklyn. and Henry Abrams. OF
Boston.
Among the most important changes recon-
mended in the revised constitution are: Those
debarr1ng rumSellerS from membership in the
order and prohibiting local assemblies TO have any
social gatherings OF picnicS where liquors is sold
on penalty OF expulsion; abOllShing the ten
minute discussions on labor questions at assem-
bly, meetings and substituting for them the rule
requiring the convention OF monthly meeting for
the sole consideration OF educational topicS es-
tab1Sh1ng the rule requiring every local as
Sembly to obtain permission or the district assem-
strike; and lastly, those restricting the freedom
with which members OF the order have hitherto
been able to attack or denOunce their higher
omcers and members OF the general executive
board.
The new law governing the formation Of ma
ttonal trade assemblies provides that local as
Semby OF mixed nature, and which desire 70
form national trade district by themselves, must
first obtain permission or their district, and then
forward their application to the general secretary,
who will lay the matter before all the local as
sembles or that craft in the country. This regula-
ton, it is thought, is designed to increase the
power OF the general executive board and give
them greater Jurisdiction than heretofore in de-
termining whether certain crafts shall be allowed
to form national trace assemblies OF their own.
1t is also declared by many knights In this city
that by these means the general board are merely
attempting to quiet the clamOrS OF certain trades
who desire to form national assemblies, while at
the same time TO retain their controlling grasp
over those national assemblies when formed. The
law concerning strikes meets with considerable
appreciation, but that one touching the temper
ance question Is denounced by the German ele-
ment In unqualified language.
The circular accompanying the constitution and
laws contains instructions to the local assemblies
to take vote upon the two documents and re-
port the result TO the general secretary, Charles
II. Litchman, not later than June %. II the re-
turns received by the general secretary show a
majority to be In favor OF the adoption OF Que or
both propositions submitted, then an official
proclamation OF the fact will be made to the order
In case the returns are unfavorable the old con-
St1tution OF the order, with the alterations that
were adopted at the Richmond convention, Will be
submitted as the constitution OF the order.